DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan released a homicide defendant with GPS monitoring on Nov. 7.
Jaelen McLendon, 32, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run incident that injured and later killed 25-year-old moped driver Alpha Kake at the intersection of 15th and L Streets NW on Aug. 31, 2024. Kake succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 1, 2024.
According to court documents, a Metropolitan Police Officer (MPD) officer patrolling downtown first attempted to pull McLendon over for driving his car without his headlights turned on. Instead, McLendon did not stop and began swerving around cars and driving into oncoming traffic, eventually leading to a chase.
Later, McLendon ran a red light at the intersection of 15th and L streets, allegedly struck Kake, and continued driving eastbound.
McLendon, a Metro bus driver, was arrested more than a year later on Nov. 5. At a hearing on Nov. 7, McLendon’s defense attorney, Kevin Roberston, alerted Judge Ryan that McLendon would be waiving his rights to a preliminary hearing, and requested his client be released from DC Jail.
Robertson argued that McLendon was not a flight risk, given that after the incident he continued to live and work in the District of Columbia to provide for his nine-year-old son and fiance. Robertson also told Judge Ryan that McLendon’s case was unique, given that it first began as a traffic violation that quickly escalated.
The prosecution argued that McLendon continued driving, and left Kake unconscious in the street, which indicated contempt for the law The prosecution also noted that McLendon avoided turning himself in to the authorities afterwards.
As a Metro bus driver, McLendon also has a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), which the prosecution argued made him a bigger danger to the community, given a car caused the fatality.
Judge Ryan said that he had read McLendon’s 40-page arrest warrant, as well as six letters from his friends and family, and understood the defense’s argument that this case contained many complexities.
He acknowledged the prosecution’s argument, but also noted McLendon’s clean record and character references suggested there would not be a repeat.
McLendon was therefore released with GPS monitoring, and Judge Ryan ordered that McLendon not use his CDL for the next 30 days.
Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 15.
